Improvement in car-couplings



D. A. FLUMERFELT.

Car-Couplings.

NO 1503I4, Patented April 28,1874.

ggmsses: nimmst NITED STATES PATENT OFFICEn DANIEL A. FLUMERFELT, OF DELAVARE STATION, NEWT JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLiNGS.V

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 150,314, dated April 2:5, 1874; application tiled March 6, 1874.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL A. FLUMER- FELT, of Delaware Station, in the county of Warren and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gar- Couplings; and I do hereby declare the fol.- lowing to be a clear and exact description of the nature thereof, sufcient to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to fully understand, make, and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side view of the device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the two figures.

This invention consists in a locking-bar suspended within the drawhead, and having a rounded lower end, a peak on the lower inner face of the draw-head formed by a double ineline, and a shackle with rounded shoulder, which engages with the rounded end of the locking-bar, whereby the shackle and lockingbar have an axial bearing on each other, and

the shackle has an axial bearing on the peak.

It also consists in a diagonally pendent spring, which is arranged in the draw-head, so as to hold the shackle in horizontal or inclined directions, and likewise receive the blow when the shackle is thrust into the draw-head.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a draw head, and B a hook shaped shackle therefor. The lower side of the inn er face of the head A, beginning at the outer or front end, extends upwardly and inwardly to a peak, O, then downwardly to a point of termination, so that said lower side of the head constitutes a double incline, D. Gr represents a locking-bar, which is suspended from the upper inner side of the head A by means of a bolt, H, which is hung in ears J, (shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2,) the slots of which are enlarged, so that the bolt plays freely in the slots. The portion of draw-head just above and forward of the point of suspension of the locking-bar is formed with a bearing, K, for the upper end of said lockingbar, the latter being forced against the bearing when the cars are coupled, whereby the strain on the bar is transferred to said bearing K, and, owing to the enlarged slots of the ears J, the bolt His relieved of such strain. The bar G will set diagonally in place, the

lower or free end L thereof being the part farthest within the draw-head 5 and said bar is of such length that it cannot pass forward of the peak C, whether the cars are coupled or uncoupled. The lower or free end L of the locking-bar is rounded, and the faces of the shoulders M of the shackle B, constituting the hooks thereof, are correspondingly rounded, so that the shoulders of the shackles will turn freely on the lower end of the locking-bar, after the manner of an axis, as illustrated by the arrow, Fig. 2.

The operation is as follows: One end of the shackle being held in the respective drawhead, its other or free end projects therefrom, so that when the cars approach each other, said free end will be thrust into the opposite draw-head. The shackle, striking the lower end of the bar G, elevates the same, and conA tinues its advance motion until the top of the respective shoulders M clears the lower end of the bar G 5 then the latter falls on the shoulder, and thus causes an automatic engagement of the bar and shackle. During the rising and falling motions of the cars, the peak C permits the shackle to vibrate thereon, and, owing to the axial bearing of the shackle against the locking-bar, due to the rounded end L and rounded shoulder M, the shackle vbrates on the locking-bar without causing irregular or sudden strain on either the shackle or lockingbar; and, as the draw strain is transferred to the solid bearing K of` the head A, the coupling of the car will be found to be rm and reliable. The uncoupling will be readily performed by merely lifting the locking-bar in either head, a chain, cord, or other connection, N, being attached to each bar, and passing through an opening in the head A, to within convenient reach of the brakesman or other operator. I represents a spring, which, being secured to the inner termination of the head A, extends forward and then downward, rearward, so that there is presented an advance p portion, R, which is diagonally pendent, and so arranged that whenever the shackle is held by the locking-bar, the end of the former is in contact with the pendent portion 1t of the spring' I, whereby, owing,` to the peak C, thc shackle, besides being` held horizontal, maybe set diagonally high and low, and remain in fixed position, owing to the pressure and hold of the pendent P, which feature will be found serviceable for coupling,` cars whose draw-heads are of various heights. The pendent portion of the spring,` likewise receives the thrust of the shackle during the coupling operation, and also when the cars are coupled, thus serving to ease said thrust, and in a measure break shocks usually occurring. S represents vertical openings in the upper and lower walls of the draw-head, and T a Vertical opening` in the locking-bar, which openings are so disposed that an ordinary coupling-pin may be passed therethrough for usage of the usual coupling` -link in cases Where the hooked shackle Bis not available or in service. During the coupling,` operation the forward portion of double incline D will serve to direct the shackle to the locking-bar in cases where the latter is set too low. NVhen the shackle is removed from the draw-head, the locking`- bar G cannot fall to the rear of the double inclines D, owing to the bolt H resting` in the slot of the ear J. l

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The suspended locking bar G, with rounded lower end L, and the shackle B,Witl 1 rounded shoulders M, having an axial bearing' on each other, in combination with the peak C of the double inclineD D, forming an axial bearing1 for the shackle, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The diagonally pendent spring` P, in combination with shackle B, coupling-bar G, and peak C, to operate as set forth.

DANIEL A. FLUMERFELT.

Titnesses JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, G. S. HETHERINGTON. 

